You Know You've Been Crocheting Too Much Lately When...

Oh my.  I think I need to put my hooks and skeins down.  It's getting to my brain!

I just picked up an apple, peeled the little sticker off of it, and thought, "Wow, it has its dye lot on it!"

Lol...I might be a little more sane after the craft fair next Saturday.  One week!

If you're in the area, swing on by!

Happy November!

It's November already!

Now, how did that happen?!?

Can't believe how quickly October flew...but, ohmygoodness, so many exciting things are coming up!

First of all, I've been doing the happy dance for the last couple of weeks because I have plans.

Big plans.

Plans that include a website of my own and an etsy shop.  I can't wait to get them up and show you!

For now, though, want a sneak peak at a few of my newest creations?  (and some of my wonderful friends!)
Pictures compliments of my amazing sister, Kate.

Stay tuned!

My Laugh for the Day

Today, I was writing a word problem on the board in preparation for the two third graders I was expecting in a few minutes.

Three students walked six blocks to the craft store...

As I copied the problem from the teacher edition, the SDC teacher walked in, read what I had written, and laughed.

"Oh, Bethany, only you would write a 3rd grade math problem about a craft store!"

I had to show her the textbook before she believed me.

Isn't it funny that I don't have to be somewhere for more than a few weeks before my reputation as a craftaholic comes out?  :-)

Oh, Yum...

Why, hello, new challenge!!!

I finally got to get my craft store fix yesterday.  Hooray for being finished with my challenge in time to enjoy the Columbus Day Sale!

Don't you love saving as much as you spend?

Mhmmmmm :-)

These will whip up into some pretty scarf/hat sets for the November sale...and some cute little ornaments and doilies and things.  So much fun!

What's your newest project?

Happy Homemaking!
♥ Bethany

I Conquered My Challenge!

Last month, after looking around my house and realizing that I had more than enough craft odds and ends to keep me busy for a long time, I challenged myself to make 25 things out of what I already have before I allowed myself to walk into a craft store again.

It was a pretty difficult thing to do, considering how Michael's AND JoAnn's went on huge sales the week after I made the challenge.  That was painful!

I stuck to it, though, and after counting my things up yesterday, realized that I had surpassed my required 25 things!  I had a few projects stashed in one room, a few in another, some in this closet, some in that bag...story of my life!

But here I am, with about 30 beautiful newly created items that I can put on the table on Noveber 13th when Momma B and I do the craft fair together.  So exciting!

I'm not going to post pictures of all 25+ things that I made, but here are some of my highlights!

I made lots of bracelet/earrings sets...and this is one of my favorites!  I love the whimsical dragonfly clasps and matching earring dangles, and the way they compliment the pretty blue and green glass beads from my collection.

I found this cute dog button and pawprint ribbon on the same day and was determined to have some fun with it :-)

I love these yarns together!  My first ear-flaps baby hat.

I love these little flowers and had fun finding lots of ways to use them!

I put a small button on this one and added a bobby pin--such a sweet and easy accessory!

Super soft hooded sweater

I was sooo excited to be able to find these adorable little mother of pearl heart-shaped buttons to match the pink flecks in this litle sweater.  I love accessorizing :-)

That's a snippet of what's been keeping my busy for the last few weeks...

I'm excited for new things now!

Happy Homemaking!

♥ Bethany

Flower Girl Baskets

My childhood friend, Emily, got married recently.  There are so many pictures to post and so many things to tell!  But I thought I would share a tutorial on how to make the satin-lined flower girls baskets I made for her wedding.

Originally, the idea was to just buy some pretty little white flower girl baskets, but after several of us searching all of the shops in our hometowns, the search was in vain and we knew we would need to make our own. 

I took on the challenge, and was surprised that I couldn't even find white baskets!  All I could find at local craft store was natural wood baskets.  So, I added another step to the process and bought some white spray paint.


After sanding the baskets down lightly to make sure there were no splintery parts (very important when your flower girls are 2 and 5 years old!), I took them outside for the next step.

I used a large lid from a cardboard box (or one of the cartons they put your purchases in at Costco would work) to keep the paint from spraying everywhere.  Even though I did it outside, I didn't want white grass!

Painted up and pretty!

Let the baskets dry for a few hours before working on the next steps (2-3 hours should do it).

Next, I took the baskets inside and pinned a circle of satin to the perimeter of the basket.  I measured the diameter of the circle and then added about 8 inches to it when I cut the circle out.  Adding the satin lining to the basket gives it a touch of elegance and looks so pretty!

I used regular old straight pins from my sewing basket.  The wood in the basket I used was soft enough to push the pins right into it.  If the basket you're using is too dense to do this, try using clamps, or simple free-hand it when you use your hot glue gun to secure it.  Just make sure you're eying the fabric to make sure you're gathering it evenly!

When you're finished pinning, it should look like this:

 

If you're wondering why I didn't paint the handle white, don't worry!  It's going to be wrapped in satin ribbon.  :-)

A view of the basket's interior.  The satin will look really bulky while you're pinning it in, but don't worry.  When it's glued down and the decorative ribbon secures it, it looks just beautiful.  Trust me :-)

To decorate the handle, I wanted to finish the satin look.  I added white satin ribbon (1 inch thick).  It really pulled the whole thing together--and made it look so "wedding-ish."  Just remember to tack the ribbon down with glue every few wraps so that it doesn't fall apart in your flower girl's hands!

My favorite touch was using the same pearl/lace ribbon around the basket that I put on the ring bearer pillow I made.  I was really pleased with how the baskets were lined with the same satin I used for the pillow, and the same ribbon!  It made a beautiful set.

The purpose of the ribbon (aside from looking pretty!) is to hide the edges of the satin lining.  Voila!  All gone :-)

Next, it's time to dress your pretty little basket up!

All I used was some lavender ribbon, white ribbon, and little ribbon rosettes. 

There are endless possibilities of things that you could add.  The world is yours!

Here are the finished products:

So much fun!  I loved being able to add a handmade touch to Emily's wedding.

Here's a list of things you'll need to make it easier:

♥ wooden baskets

♥ fine sandpaper

♥ white spray paint (if your basket isn't white already)

♥ satin

♥ straight pins

♥ satin ribbon (one inch wide)

♥ hot glue gun

♥ edging ribbon (like the pearl/lace edging ribbon I used)

♥ little satin rosettes in the color of your choice

♥ matching satin ribbon (1/8" or 1/4" thick)

Let your creativity loose and have fun with what you come up with!  If you make one, send me a link of the picture!  I would love to see.

Don't limit yourself to the next wedding...find ways to make pretty satin-lined Christmas baskets or make your own Easter baske for your kids next year.  The possibilities are endless! 

Have fun! ♥

My Challenge

I have a sickness. 

Really, truly, definitely.

No matter how I try to avoid it, I can't help but want to try every craft on the face of the planet. 

Our guest room/craft room has turned into a craft junkie's heaven. 

There is more scrapbook paper in that room than I could ever use, rubber stamps for every occasion, stickers, glitter,  embroidery floss, every color of yarn and fabric I can think of, sewing patterns, cross-stitch books, embroidery books, applique books, crochet books, knitting books (yes, I finally did hunker down and learn!), quilting books, calligraphy sets, wooden dowels/shapes, paint, felt markers, 9 different kinds of glue, glass beads, wooden beads, jewelry-making gadgets, decorative paper punches, collections of colored threads, stencils, scores of fancy scissors...buttons...idea sketches...

The point is, I have enough things in this house to keep me busy for a long time.  But whenever I get a new idea in my head, I run out to buy what I need.  Understandably, if I'm trying one of the project's in Martha's most recent addition of Living, I'm not going to have everything in my craft closet that the queen of craft has in one of her studios.  BUT, I can improvise with what I have, or I can finish one of my other projects before jumping into a new one.

I just bought two new crochet books that I've been wanting for a while (God bless JoAnn's for having 50% crochet books this week!) and my first impulse is to dash back to the store to buy beautiful new yarns for the great projects inside each book.  But doing so only keeps this crazy cycle going!

My challenge to myself is to make 25 things out of what I already have before I allow myself to buy anything for a new project. 

There are so many things that I can make using what I already have.  The trouble is, I just get bored with them.  Self-control and a challenge to complete will help me get my creative thoughts going to come up with some new and exciting things to make straight from my craft closet.

I'll keep you updated and post pictures of the things that I make.  I'm not creating any huge requirements for myself; the only parameter I've given myself is that whatever I make during this challenge needs to be marketable for the craft fair I'm doing with Momma B in November.  We'll have an entire table to put our items on, so I need to work on having enough things to fill it with!

Well, I'm off to join Jesse on the couch, curl up with him and a spool of crochet thread, and make little flower hairclips while we watch Up.

Have I mentioned that it's a great movie?

Oh, Baby!

Here are some pictures of the projects that kept me busy for the last couple of weeks!

I've been going to Michael's or JoAnn's every time I get a 40% off coupon so that I can save money on $10 packs of Gerber onesies (five in a pack)

I also used my teacher discount card at JoAnn's to get 15% off on 1/4 yards of each of the three fabrics I used for applique designs.

Sweet heart applique--my very first attempt at applique!

Using the blanket stitch decoratively

I loved these fabrics for a baby girl :)

So sweet!  These gifts were made for my friend Dalia, who is expecting a baby girl in about two weeks.  She's doing everything brown/pink.

Couldn't resist :)

I've really never embroidered before (cross-stitch, yes, but not this)

Especially never free-hand embroidered!  There was no pattern...

I like the whimsical way it turned out.  I also sewed around the neckline and the hem on the sleeves for added contrast.

I was so excited when I found this yarn at Michael's!  (bought with a "20% off your entire purchase coupon," thank you very much!)

Brown and pink, just for Baby Chloe!

There had to be lots of flower-themed gifts for Dalia's daughter, because "Chloe" means "from a flower."  Dalia's my favorite flower around!

I was so excited when I found these buttons!  They were the perfect finishing touch to the sweater.

I'll be posting pictures from Doll's baby shower on Sunday, but first, I'd better think about taking my own shower and hopping off to work! :)

My Newest Little Joy

...is crafting these precious, tiny little hats for preemies!

My best friend Emily is a Respiratory Therapist and works in the NICU where up to 70 tiny babies a day are fighting for life.  Little hats like these help them maintain their body heat and keep them snuggly warm.

It's easy to adjust the size of the hat too, depending on the baby you're making it for. 

I wonder what little ones Em will pass these on to?  I don't know who they are, but I've prayed for them.

They're so cute!  Check out the pattern

There are so many hospitals in need of donations like these sweet little hats.  You can use scraps of yarn from other projects, and they whip up in minutes.  If you know how to crochet and are looking for a simple way to bless others, give this little pattern a try!

Also, Jon's girlfriend Megan passed on the awesome website ravelry.com which is where this pattern came from.  I've quickly fallen in love.  You can share your own pattern, browse through others, and post pictures of your completed projects.  It's a crochet/knitter's heaven!

I'm Windflowers927.  Check me out :)

Flower [pen] Pot

I made these for two special ladies at First Lutheran as a gift on my last day of subbing at First Lutheran School.  (I still see them almost every day since I'm just across the parking lot at the preschool now, but I wanted them to know how much I appreciated them while I was working there all year)

Hence, the Flower Pen Pots!

To make the pens, I gathered tacky glue, silk flowers, ball point pens, and floral tape.

Also, a terra cotta pot and some pinto beans.

The decorative scissors and paper are used for the card, and it's fun to have a cute ribbon to tie around the flower pot.

I peeled the green plastic off of the flower stems to expose the wire, glued the wire to the pen, and began wrapping with floral tape.  I used dots of glue all along the way to make sure that the floral tape (which isn't incredibly sticky) would adhere to the pen and not unravel the first time anyone picked it up to write with.

I used a piece of paper to cover the drain hole in the bottom of the pot, and filled the pot with pinto beans.  The beans are a great way to keep the flower pens standing where you put them.

After the pens dried, I put them in the pot, tied a cute ribbon around the top of the pot, and voila!

How cute is that?

It came out to costing less than $5 to make these.  It's always exciting to find a way to make inexpensive gifts!